The virus “don’t take a vacation”. The number of Covid-19 contaminations has rebounded in several European countries in recent weeks. This seventh wave particularly affects France, which holds the record for daily contamination in the European Union, according to Our World in Data (in English), but it also affects some of its neighbors such as Italy or Greece. Some manage to keep the epidemic under control, but it is rarely thanks to restrictive health measures.
Overview of the epidemic situation in some European countries.
In Portugal, the wave is starting again
Portugal is one of the first European countries to have suffered a new wave of contamination linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, in May. He is therefore also the first to have seen the epidemic wave decrease. But it quickly started to rise again: on July 8, the country posted an average of 10,126 daily cases over the last seven days, or 995 cases per million inhabitants. Portugal has also recorded 20 daily deaths from Covid-19 over the same period, or 2 per million inhabitants.
Despite this increase in contamination, the authorities lifted restrictions on entry into the country on July 1: it is no longer necessary to present proof of vaccination. On the other hand, the mask is still compulsory in public transport and taxis, as well as in health establishments (hospitals, pharmacies, retirement homes).
Germany on a high plateau
Germany is no exception to the trend, but its situation is stabilizing. After a first phase of increased contamination in early June, the number of new positive cases across the Rhine stabilized on a high plateau at the end of the month: the country has recorded nearly 90,000 new daily cases over the last seven days. on July 8, or about 1,000 cases per million population. The number of daily deaths was 81 over the same period (0.97 per million inhabitants).
At the same time, the country has also lifted most of its restrictions on entering the country. No more need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. FFP2 masks are compulsory on public transport.
Spain spared from contamination
In terms of contamination, Spain is doing better: the country has not experienced a real wave since the winter of 2021-2022, despite a very slow recovery since the beginning of June. Authorities recorded 22,204 daily cases on average over seven days on July 8, which is about 475 cases per million population. But the country posted an average of 88 deaths per day over the same period (1.89 per million inhabitants).
Unlike many countries, Spain has retained some of its restrictions to enter the territory: travelers who come from outside the Schengen area must provide proof of vaccination, a negative test or a certificate of recovery . On the other hand, the country recently abandoned the obligation to wear a mask indoors, which had been maintained since May 2020. Today, it is only compulsory in transport (excluding planes) and health establishments.
Greece on the podium of the most affected European countries
Greece is the third most affected country in the European Union by Covid-19 in relation to the number of inhabitants, with a wave that has been rising steadily since the beginning of June. Some 17,375 daily cases have been reported on average over the last seven days on July 9, which is equivalent to 1,675 cases per million inhabitants. Over the same period, the country recorded an average of 24 daily deaths, or 2.37 per million inhabitants.
However, like France, the country has not implemented additional health measures. The wearing of mandatory masks was lifted on June 1, except in public transport, taxis and medical establishments.
In Italy, deteriorating indicators
Italy is one of the European countries most affected by this new wave. The number of contaminations has been increasing steadily since the beginning of June: on July 9, the authorities announced an average of 94,569 daily cases over the last seven days, or 1,566 cases per million inhabitants. The number of deaths is also on the rise with 82 deaths per day on average over the same period (1.36 per million inhabitants).
This deterioration in indicators went hand in hand with the lifting of the obligation to wear a mask indoors in June, by the Ministry of Health. The latter continues to recommend it, and the FFP2 remains mandatory in transport (excluding aircraft).
UK is doing well
The United Kingdom is relatively less affected than its European neighbors by Covid-19. On July 8, it showed 20,787 daily cases over the past seven days on average, or 304 cases per million inhabitants. The daily death toll averaged 67 over the past seven days on July 6 (0.98 per million population).
This relative good health is not due to particular restrictions. The country abandoned most of its measures, including the wearing of masks in public places, in January.